Localised or infrequent but recurring and widespread social marginalisation or prejudice against the non-religious

This condition is unusual in that it is applied in cases where there is some social discrimination, but it is not pervasive or nationwide. This condition is applied when there is sufficient background evidence to warrant the assertion that discrimination is not anomalous but widespread, and this condition may be applied for example even where if there is no legislative discrimination or where the non-religious may have legal recourse against such discrimination. However, societal discrimination (i.e. discrimination by peers, as opposed to state or legal discrimination) is not easily measured, and for this reason the Report does not currently have similar more severe boundary conditions to capture higher levels of social discrimination per se. In principle these may be introduced in future. However, we consider that countries with actual higher levels of social discrimination against the non-religious will generally already meet other higher level (more severe) boundary conditions under this thematic strand.

This condition is applied where there are miscellaneous indicators that organs of the state offer various forms of support for a religion, or to religion in general over non-religious worldviews, suggesting a preference for those beliefs, or that the organs of that religion are privileged.

Religious instruction in a significant number of schools is of a coercive fundamentalist or extremist variety

This condition highlights countries where schools subject children to fundamentalist religious instruction with no real opportunity to question fundamentalist tenets, or where lessons routinely encourage hatred (for example religious or ethnic hatred). The wording “significant number of schools” is not given a rigid quantification (sometimes the worst-offending schools are unregistered, illegal, or otherwise uncounted); however the condition is not applied in cases where only a small number of schools meet the description and may be anomalous, as opposed to being indicative of a widespread problem.

Constitution and government

San Marino has no state religion and enshrines and broadly respects non-discrimination principles. However, there is official deference to Catholic symbols and blasphemy laws remain in place.

The constitution and other legal instruments prohibit discrimination on the grounds of religion. These rights are largely respected. While San Marino has no state religion, Roman Catholicism is dominant, and crucifixes can often be found in government offices and courthouses.

A mechanism is in place by which taxpayers can choose to pay 0.3% of their income tax payments to any registered religious group or charity. In practice, the Catholic Church is the main beneficiary of this. It is not clear if this state-run fundraising mechanism would be extended to atheistic and humanist groups, though the various deferential treatment given to the Catholic Church at present, may suggest not.

Education and children’s rights

State schools provide Catholic religious instruction. Students may choose not to participate, but no alternative religious or non-religious instruction is provided.

Freedom of expression, advocacy of humanist values

San Marino still has blasphemy laws in place. Though they do not appear to be used but remain on statute.

In 2007, some Italian groups circulated a book titled “The Little Atheist” in schools. The book promoted an atheistic view and criticized the Catholic Church. The book was publicly denounced by Catholic bishops who dismissed it as “propaganda”, but its circulation does not appear to have been blocked.